This is a 2” with S# 17059. Ins co is asking for a year of production & an est of value....references on the forum..that I have found...do not include the serial # ..... any help appreciated. Have owned since late 60’s... took on trade, put in gun safe & virtually never fired... I don’t recall ever firing.. is pristine. Any help appreciated.

If it is actually stamped as a Model 34, and has no letter pre-fix, perhaps 1957. The range of SNs in the S&W Standard Catalog suggests 1955/56 but if so it would not be stamped with a model number until 1957 or later.

Pictures would help folks here assess value but as described perhaps $800+/-. I paid $500 for a 2 inch 34-1 in 98% condition but that was eight years ago. Wouldn't expect to find one where I shop for less than $800 now.

For whatever its worth, my experience with trying to insure guns is that the insurance isn't worth what it costs if you have other ways to protect your guns. Since you've had it in a gun safe now for 50 years or so, why do you think you need to insure it now?

In any case, welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Probably very late 1954. Started with 11000 in 1955. As far as I know except for an incredibly small number of fixed-sight versions they are not particularly rare. My BALLPARK guess at retail value would be $600 but I am confident that people much more knowledgeable than me will jump in on that. (I apparently commented at the same time as Jeff. He is MUCH more up on this stuff than I am.)

Welcome to them Forum

Does your revolver actually have the Model number stamped into the frame under the crane/yoke?

If it is a Model 34 marked revolver, then the serial number on the butt of the revolver should start with the letter M . . . M17059. That revolver would be from 1969

If there is no letter in the serial number on the revolver's butt, then there would also be no model number under the crane/yoke and you would actually have a 22/32 Kit Gun (sometimes referred to as a Pre-34). That revolver would have been from 1956 and look like the one pictured below

Value is a tough call. In pristine condition, even without the box, that revolver should bring over $1000 on the various auction sites

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"Acta non verba"

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Is it model marked, John or are you calling it a Model 34 because it fits the description? The serial number would be for a pre-Model 34 from 1956 or early 1957. Would you post some pictures so the experts can gauge the condition and value?


Edit: I apparently type too slow...

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Serial number 17335 was shipped in October 1956.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum from Arizona. Here's mine, a similar vintage Pre Model.

Attached Images

Kit Gun Flat Latch 1953.jpg (171.0 KB, 31 views)

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

This is from our SWCA expert on the Kit Guns:

The lowest serial number on a model-marked Model 34 is in the 35,000 range, and most of them are higher than that. Those did not ship until well into 1958.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Welcome to the forum.

Serial #17095 would be from late 1955 to early 1956 according to my database. It's officially a "Model of 1953 .22/32 Kit Gun" built on the I frame. It has 4 screws in the side plate including the one hidden by the grip. It could have a round or sq butt grip frame. Also known as a Pre Model 34.

If it is truly stamped MOD. 34 it was produced very late for its serial # and is an anomaly that we've seen before because S&W guns were not and are not produced in serial # order.

If it has an M at the front of the serial # on the butt, it will be stamped MOD. 34-1 (it's possible the -1 is left off) in the yoke cut of the frame, but the giveaway is that it will only have 3 screws in the side plate. it's built on the J frame with an 1/8" longer cyl and cyl frame window.

I agree with the $800-$900 value. More for a sq butt which is much less common, and up to $1000 if it has the serial # matching box, tools, and paperwork.

Hope that helps,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The #17059 is on the arm for the cyl... below the model #....The # 66500 is on the butt of the handle. New Ins co requested an itemized list before providing a quote.... should have ignored! Don’t ever recall actually using or
taking to the range...just kept it in the safe all these years. Thks for help. Leo. Sorry, I don’t know how to post pictures but it’s exactly same as your posted picture. I didn’t realize there was another # on the handle end!

Jim, according to Roy 17335 shipped in Oct. 1956. The OP's gun's serial is about 300 units lower but it could have shipped earlier or later. The ship dates within +/- 1000 units are scattered. I saw one in the 17xxx range that shipped in '59.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

The number on the butt of the revolver is the serial number

66500 puts us into 1959/60

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"Acta non verba"

I searched long and hard for a Model 34 without success. Then one day when browsing the used guns at a local Cabelas, there I found mine. A previous owner had allowed blood to drip on the backstrap - which helped me negotiate the price downward a bit. I'm very fond of my Model 34-1 and have pictured it with a S&W holster and aftermarket target grips from Thailand - I think it was an E-bay purchase.

Regards,

Dave

Attached Images

	Model 34-1 right + holster.jpg (71.7 KB, 30 views)
	Model 34-1 + Holster.jpg (67.6 KB, 28 views)
	Model 34-1 left + holster.jpg (77.1 KB, 33 views)

Johnah65,

colt_saa is correct. Your serial # is the #66500 from about 1960 - 63. and has a 3 screw side plate. If it's just marked 34 it's still an I frame, If it has a 34-1 (or should have) it's a J frame. It's right on the cusp of the change. There can be a difference in value and market demand.

To know what you have for sure, measure the length of the cyl while still closed in the gun. If it's 1 1/4" long it's an i frame. If it's 1 3/8" long, you have a J frame.

You initially gave us the assembly #.

ASSEMBLY (factory work) #s: These multi-digit numbers of 3 to 5 digits, are on the yoke at the hinge, in the ‘yoke cut’ of the frame opposite the yoke near the hinge (usually accompanied with the inspector’s letter or # code stamp of approval, but not always), and inside of the sideplate, for the pre war and early post war period thru ~early 1958.

After 1957 Model #s were assigned and stamped on the frame in the yoke cut. The serial # was soon after added in the ‘yoke cut’ as well and the assembly # moved to the left side of the grip frame parallel to the butt. More currently beginning in the 1980s we see non-matching multi-digit numbers parallel to the butt left or right side, and inside the side plate. Once the gun is shipped, the only use for the assembly # is to confirm the three parts it's stamped on, are original to the gun. These are still in use to this day.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thks to all for your help!